4.6 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 2 June 2014
⏱️ 3 minutes
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Blue-sky thinking? Pushing the envelope? Learn what these business terms mean
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0:00.0 | This is a feature from BBC learning English. |
0:03.0 | For more information and our terms of use go to BBCworldservice.com |
0:09.0 | forward slash podcasts. |
0:11.0 | The English we speak. |
0:16.0 | Ah, hi Lee, I didn't see you in the canteen today. |
0:20.0 | I brought you a sandwich. |
0:23.0 | Oh, that's very kind of you, Finn. |
0:25.0 | I had to go and buy these. |
0:27.0 | Oh, an envelope and a nice picture of a sunny beach. |
0:32.0 | It's the sky, Finn. My boss told me that we need blue sky thinking |
0:38.5 | and we need to push the envelope if we want to succeed in the current market. |
0:44.5 | All right, and what are you going to do with this envelope and this picture, Lee? |
0:51.6 | Well, the beach has a blue sky so maybe I need to push it into the |
0:57.8 | envelope and send it to the clients I'm not sure. |
1:03.4 | Um, Lee, I think what he wants has nothing to do with the sky or envelopes. |
1:10.1 | These are two expressions people use in business nowadays. |
1:15.0 | It's corporate language or as we say corporate speak. |
1:19.0 | What do they mean? |
1:21.0 | Well in English, blue sky thinking means having ideas which are very |
1:26.9 | original even if they're not practical or realistic. Your boss wants you to be creative. |
1:35.0 | And what do I do with this envelope? |
1:38.0 | Well, the expression to push the envelope means to go even further than others and do things that might be new or risky or even dangerous. |
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